Things To Do In Apalachicola
Get Outside
Wild and wonderfully biodiverse, Apalachicola is a playground for outdoor pursuits. From Apalachicola Bay to the Apalachicola National Forest, the region brims with natural wonders, including miles of waterways and untouched wilderness that beckon boaters, bird watchers, and paddle boarders.
Celebrate the Season at Franklin Cafe!
Make your holidays unforgettable at Franklin Cafe with festive dining and celebrations! Join us for a special prix fixe menu on Christmas Eve (5-8 PM) with Pictures with Santa (5-7 PM), or celebrate Christmas Day with another festive menu (2-6 PM). Ring in 2025 at our New Year's Eve Pearl Party (5-9 PM), featuring live music, a prix fixe dinner, a champagne toast, and a sparkling pearl ball drop. Reserve your table now!
Ring in the New Year at The Gibson Inn!
We’re your one-stop destination for an unforgettable New Year’s Eve. Start the evening with a flavorful wine-paired prix fixe dinner at the Franklin Café from 5–9 PM. Then, keep the energy going at the Parlor Bar Party and live music from 8 PM - 12:30 AM. As the clock strikes midnight, don’t miss our Annual Gibson Inn Pearl Ball Drop paired with a complimentary champagne toast to welcome 2025 in style. Let’s count down together, popping bubbly with friends—old and new.
Cheers to an incredible night ahead—we can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Joyrides For All
You don’t have to be a Gibson guest to enjoy one of our most popular and eco-friendly amenities! (You do need to be at least 18 years old and be licensed to drive, though!) Drop by the Front Desk in the lobby or give us a call at 850-270-2190 to rent one of our all-electric Gibson golf carts. There’s no more memorable way to see, explore, and get around historic downtown Apalach.
Head out for great shelling around Apalachicola at St. George Island State Park, a barrier island and park with pristine beaches, and St. Vincent Island, an uninhabited barrier island just west of St. George Island, as well as in and around the shallow waters and sand bars of Apalachicola Bay.
Book a fishing charter for a half- or full-day of deep-sea fishing in the Gulf of Mexico or head to the public fishing pier and drop your line. Either way, you’re sure to reel in a few redfish, speckled trout, and flounder year-round.
Explore Apalachicola’s natural beauty on a hike along the nature trails of the Apalachicola National Forest, St. George Island State Park (don’t miss Gap Point Trail which winds through a maritime forest), and Bald Point State Park (a favorite for spotting sea turtles and deer).
The lower Apalachicola River estuary is a kayaking paradise, with miles of marked waterways winding past wildflower forests, sawgrass marshes and lush pinewood flats rich with wildlife. Bring your binoculars as this area features several spots on the Great Florida Birding Trail.
Catch a local band at one of Apalach’s many live music venues. From breweries and bars to fun outdoor festivals, there’s always music in the air around Apalachicola.